Washington has deployed several types of military aircraft in the Middle East. At the same time, South Korea, Japan and the United States carried out joint air exercises this Sunday with an American strategic bomber.
American B-52 fighter jets have arrived in the Middle East, the United States armed forces said on Saturday, the day after the Pentagon announced new military deployments for “defend Israel” and warn Iran. “B-52 strategic bombers from the Minot base of the United States Air Force (in North Dakota) are under the responsibility of Centcom”the central command of the United States armed forces in the Middle East, according to a brief message on social media.
The Pentagon announced Friday evening upcoming military deployments in the region, on the horizon “next months” with a view to the “defense of Israel” and as a warning to Tehran, sworn enemy of the Jewish state and bête noire of Washington.
The warning from the US Department of Defense
“If Iran, its partners, or affiliated groups take advantage of this moment to target U.S. personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take all necessary measures to defend itself.”had warned the Ministry of Defense.
Planned are defenses against ballistic missiles, fighter jets, B-52 bombers and other types of military aircraft.
Israel, of which the United States is the unwavering ally, has been at war against Palestinian Hamas in Gaza since October 7, 2023 and faces Lebanese Hezbollah on its northern border, two groups supported by Iran.
For the first time, Iran and Israel, sworn enemies, openly exchanged direct fire, with Israeli aircraft launching a raid on military targets in Iran on October 26, in retaliation for a salvo of some 200 missiles launched by Tehran on Israel on October 1.
In Asia, an American strategic bomber takes part in exercises with South Korea and Japan
South Korea, Japan and the United States carried out joint air exercises this Sunday with an American strategic bomber, the South Korean army announced, after the longest missile launch carried out by Pyongyang. These exercises are being held three days after Pyongyang launched one of its solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), one of the most powerful and advanced in its arsenal, capable, according to experts, of reaching targets in the United States.
The US B-1B bomber, which can carry nuclear warheads, South Korean F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets, as well as Japanese F-2 jets, were mobilized for the exercises, the military said. “The exercise demonstrates the U.S.-South Korea alliance’s commitment to integrated extended deterrence in response to North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threats.”South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
During the maneuvers, South Korean and Japanese aircraft escorted the American strategic bomber to a designated location south of the Korean Peninsula, “demonstrating a strong ability to strike targets quickly and accurately”added the army. It is the fourth deployment this year of a nuclear bomber over the Korean Peninsula, the military said, and the second as part of a trilateral air exercise aimed at countering military threats from Pyongyang.
